Automatic prompter attachment for typewriters



April 30, 1957 'EqJ. FENTOS 2,790,421

AUTOMATIC PROMPTER ATTACHMENT FOR TYFEWRITERS Filed Nov. 6 1.953

' INVENTOR. ERNEST J. FEN'I'OS United States Paten i.

AUTOMATIC PROMPTER ATTACHMENT FOR TYPEWRITERS Ernest J. Fentos, New York, N. Y. 2

Application November 6, 1953, Serial No. 390,611

1 Claim. (Cl. 120-32) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in copyholders for typewriters.

More particularly, the present invention proposes the construction of an improved copyholder or prompter" which will hold a roll of copy, such as a mailing list, adjacent the platen of a typewriter in ready view with only a portion of the roll and copy thereon visible, and which will change such portion of the roll and copy as the platen is moved.

Another object of the present invention proposes forming the copyholder or prompter with a clutch device so that the platen can be moved without moving the copy roll when such is desired.

Still further, the present invention proposes constructing the copyholder so that it can be readily removed from a typewriter or permanently attached to it.

ice

later be more fully described. It is obvious, however,

of axle 29 is journaled in side 19 and the other end 31 a is journaled in and extends through side 20, for disposal adjacent the platen 28 of the typewriter. A gear engag- 0 ing portion 32 is formed on the end 31 of axle 29.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a typewriter equipped with a coypholder or prompter constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the clutch key retracted.

Fig. 6 is an end view illustrating a modification of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary front view similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating another modification of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 8---8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 99 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of a belt similar to the upper belt shown in Fig. 7 but illustrating another modification of the invention.

The copyholder or prompter, in accordance with the first form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, has a frame 15 in box form.

Frame 15 has a top 16, bottom 17, back 18 and two opposed roll supporting sides 19 and 20. A front opening or window 21 is provided in the front 22 of the frame 15. Side 19 of the frame is attached to the bottom 17 by a hinge 23 and a lock 24 removably secures the side 19 to the top 16 of the frame (see Fig. 3). In this manner, the side 19 may be pivoted on its hinge 23 to permit access to the interior of the frame.

Clamps 25 and 26 fixed to frame 15 provide means removably and slidably to attach the frame 15 to a typewriter 27 adjacent one end of the platen 28 as will Mounted on the end of platen 28 of typewriter 27 is a gear 33. The platen shaft 34 is fixed to a stub shaft 35 and gear 33 is freely mounted on the free turned down end of the stub shaft, 35. A retainer ring 36 (see Figs. 4 and 5) holds the gear on the stub shaft 35. The stub shaft 35 may be an integral portion of the platen shaft 34 or it may be secured to the platen knob 34 by a suction cup or slip clutch 34 or by a suitable clamping band around the platen knob 34.

A take-up roll 37 is similarly mounted in the frame- 15 spaced from the axle 29. One end 38 of the roll 37 is journaled in side 19 of the frame 15 and the other end 39 of the take-up roll 37 is journaled in and ex tends through the side 20 of the frame. A gear engaging portion 40 is provided on end 39 of the take-up roll 37 The gear engaging portions 32 and 40 of the axle 29 i and take-up roll 37, respectively, are operatively engaged with the gear 33 being disposed on opposite sides of the gear. Inthis manner, the axle 29 and take-up roll 37 are rotated by the gear 33. I

Gear 33 and stub shaft 35 have alignable keyways 41 and 42 and a. key 43 slidably fits these keyways 41 and 42 for removably fixing the gear to the stub shaft. Fig.

Gear 33 is rotatably held between the gear engaging portions 32 and 40 of the axle 29 and take-up roll 37 by retainer rings 29 and 37 respectively which are positioned on opposite sides'of the gear 33. The frame 15 is slidably mounted on clamps 25 and 26 by brackets 18 extending from the back 18 of the frame and slidably encircling arms 25 and 26 of the clamps 25 and 26 respectively. In this manner, the frame 15 is free to move with the platen 28 of the typewriter 27 being connected with it.

To operate the device, a roll 44 of copy material such I as a mailing list having names and addresses spaced according to the spacing of the typewriter 27 is mounted on the axle 29, the side 19 of the frame 15-being lowered or opened to permit this, and secured to the take-up roll 37 in the manner that a roll of film is placed in a camera. When the clutch is engaged, that is when the key 43 fixes the gear 33 to its stub shaft 35, movement of the platen 28 of typewriter 27, as by using the lever 45, moves the copy roll 44. By proper spacing of the names and addresses on the. copy roll 44, only that portion of the copy roll 44 which contains the name and address to be typed will appear in the window 21 of the frame 15. This will prompt the typist to type only the proper name and address. When the typist moves the platen 28 in the normal spacing operation while typing, this will move the copy so that when the paper in the typewriter is ready for typing the next name and address, a

, p te ted Apr. 30,; 1957 in FigE 6 is' characterized'hy'the provision of a different clutch-45's The 'rollholdingaxle'29"-and-take-up roll 37' are loosely journaled in and extend through side 20' of frame Rocker arms 46 and 47 are connected at oneend to the ends of axlef29 -and take-up roll"-37-' respectively, which extend through side of frame 15".

Straps 48 and 49 are fixed to the frame 15' and th'eirocker" arms46 and 47 are pivotally connected respectively with these straps by pivot pins 50." Springs "'51 and '52 also connect the rocker arms 46 ands47 withthe'straps148"and 49 to bias them into. the. position (shownin' solid lines in Fig; 6 wherein the gear engaging portions 32"and 40"of the axleZS)w and take-up roll 37' are engaged with the" gear 33 fixed to the platen axle 53. v

Rocker arms 46 and 47"have. handle portions .54"and 55,7respectively, to 'rock'the'm into the position indicated in broken line outline in Fig. 6 wherein the axle 29' and take-up roll 37. 'are disengaged from the gear 33; J

The modification of the present invention illustrated having opposed sides 57 and 53 secured to magnet 59 for removably "attaching the frame to a typewriter 60 below one end of the platen 61 and platen shaft 62/ A roller shaft'63 having spaced lengthwise ridge's'64 is rotatably mounted on the frame, one end being jourin Fig. 7 is characterized by the provision of a frame 561' 20 naled in the side 57 'of the frame and thezothef end' journaled inside 58.' 'A belt 65 having spaced transverse grooves 66 extends between the roller-*shaft'63 and platen shaft 62 and connects the two for rotation of the roller" shaft by and with the platen 61.

A sleeve 67-having ridges or teeth 68 is rotatably mounted on'the platen shaftv62 :andnthe' upper end of- I belt 65 fits over. this sleeve.

movement between them .when desired.

the platen can be moved when desired withoutrnoving the roller shaft 63.

An axle 72, spaced from thevv roller shaft 63, is mounted ,1

onthe frame 56 between the isides57 and 58Lremovably'v I to receive and hold a roll of copy material '73. A take-up roll 74 constructed similar to roller shaft tSZLisspaced.v

from the axlev 72 and rotatably mounted on the frames 56, the ends of the take-up roll being journaled in -sides 57 and. 58 of the frame. The t-ake-up-roll is adapted forwinding the, copy material from -the; axle :72 onto the takerup roll. A..belt '75 between the take-up-roll andfi the: roller shaft 63,connects the two for rotation of then: t-akeeup-shaft by ,the-rollerushafts Belt 75 is constructed similar to belt 65. In Fig.

can-beused-for-beltsand-75. The belt 76 has-two 10, a belt 76 is shown which ends 77 and 78 which may removably be joined together by hooks 79 and eyes 80.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications'comingwithin'the scope of'the invention as defined in the appended claim;

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and 'desire'to secure by'United' States Letters Patentfis:

A typewriter copyholder comprising a frame having two opposed roll supporting sides and a clamp to attach the frame to a typewriter adjacent one end of the platen, an axle rotatably mounted in said two opposed roll supporting sides of. the frame to hold a roll of copy material; said' axlehaving one end'extending through one of said sides and disposed adjacent the platen, said 'endo'f thejaxlehaving agea-r engaging portion thereon, 'a gear mounted'on the 'end'o f the'platen'adjacent said axle and engagedwith the'gear engaging portion thereof for "rotating theiaxle' with and byth'e platen, a take-up roll spaced fromth'ekaxleand rotatably mounted in said two opposed roll supporting sides of the frame, said take-up roll having one end extending through the same side of Y thefra'meas theaid'eland having a similar gear engaging portion "thereon operatively engaged with the gear, to rotate the take-uproll by and with the platen, a clutch to disconnect the platen and the axle and take-up roll,

said elutchbi'n'gfla' key, a stub shaftfixed to the platen,

said gear'being 'freely'm'ounted on the 'stub shaftjsaid stub shaft and saidgear'having' alignablekeyways, and a key for removablyjfixing" the gear to' the stub shaft. Reteren'cesCited inlthefile of this patent UNITEDHSTATES PATENTS 765,725

Brooks July 26, 1904 1:

951,691. Peetzz Ma-r.- 8,1910

980,278 Ireland Jana-3, 19-11 1,094,311: Dean et :-al.' Apr. 21, 1914 1,160,211 Sw'abb Nov. '16, 1915 1,185,924i-" Mullendorei June 6,- 1916 1,201,156 Bailey et al; Oct. 10, 1916 1306,788 Thompson 'et a1 June 17, 1919 1,850,654 Blahut Mar. 22 *1932 Perritt Apr. 2,1940 

